What is a low calorie alcoholic drink and how to enjoy one

October 28, 2025 •

5 min read

According to NHS, a standard glass of wine can contain up to 158 calories, and some pints of stronger lager can contain up to 222 calories. Knowing what is a low calorie alcoholic drink is crucial for those watching their intake without sacrificing social enjoyment.

Quick Summary

This comprehensive guide explains the calorie sources in alcoholic drinks and details specific low-calorie options like clear spirits, dry wines, light beers, and hard seltzers. It provides recipes, a comparative table, and tips for enjoying drinks mindfully while managing caloric intake.

Key Points

Spirits are Low-Calorie Bases: Clear spirits like vodka, gin, and tequila have minimal calories on their own and should be mixed with zero-calorie alternatives like club soda or diet tonic.
Avoid Sugary Mixers: The main source of excess calories in cocktails comes from sugary mixers like juices, syrups, and regular sodas. Opt for diet versions or fresh citrus to keep calories low.
Choose Dry Wines and Light Beers: For wine drinkers, select dry wines over sweet varieties. Light beers and hard seltzers are also excellent choices for a lower calorie count compared to regular brews.
Control Your Portions: Be aware of standard drink sizes, as restaurant and bar pours are often larger. Pacing yourself and alternating with water is a smart strategy to manage calorie intake.
Hard Seltzers Offer Convenience: Canned hard seltzers are a popular and convenient option, providing a flavorful, low-calorie, and low-sugar alternative to cocktails or heavier beers.

Alcohol itself is calorie-dense, containing approximately 7 calories per gram—almost as many as fat, which has 9 calories per gram. Beyond the alcohol content, the vast majority of calories in many popular alcoholic beverages come from sugary mixers, syrups, and juices. This is why cocktails like a pina colada can have hundreds of calories, whereas a simple vodka soda stays below 100. Making a low calorie alcoholic drink simply means choosing beverages with naturally lower sugar content or opting for zero-calorie mixers.

The Basics of Calories in Alcohol

Understanding where the calories in your drink come from is the first step toward making healthier choices. Distilled spirits, for example, have zero carbohydrates or sugar. Their calorie content comes purely from the alcohol itself. This makes them an excellent base for low-calorie cocktails when paired with non-caloric mixers. In contrast, cocktails made with juice, soda, or sweet liqueurs can quickly accumulate hundreds of empty calories that offer little to no nutritional value.

Top Low-Calorie Alcoholic Drink Categories

Spirits

Clear spirits such as vodka, gin, and tequila are among the lowest-calorie options when consumed neat, on the rocks, or with zero-calorie mixers. A standard 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof spirit typically contains around 97-100 calories. Using a mixer like club soda, soda water, or diet tonic allows you to add volume and flavor without a significant calorie increase. Fresh citrus juice, herbs, and a few drops of bitters can further enhance the flavor naturally.

Wine

For wine drinkers, dry varieties are the best choice for a lower-calorie option. This includes dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, as well as dry red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. These wines have fewer residual sugars than sweeter varieties. Sparkling wines like Brut Champagne or Prosecco are also relatively low in calories, around 85-90 calories per 4-ounce glass, partly due to their smaller serving size. To make a wine spritzer, simply add a splash of soda water to your glass of white wine to make it last longer while saving calories.

Beer and Hard Seltzer

If you prefer a brew, light beer is an obvious choice. Most light beers contain around 90-110 calories per 12-ounce serving, significantly less than the 150-200+ found in regular beers. The hard seltzer trend is another popular option for calorie-conscious consumers. Many brands offer canned seltzers with around 100 calories and minimal sugar, like White Claw or Truly. The best choice here depends on your personal preference for flavor and texture.

Comparison Table: Low-Calorie vs. High-Calorie Drinks

This table illustrates the stark difference in calorie content between smart, low-calorie choices and their more indulgent counterparts.


Beverage	Serving Size	Approximate Calories	Calorie Source	Notes
Vodka Soda	8 oz	82	Alcohol	Zero-calorie mixer keeps it light. Add lime for flavor.
Light Beer	12 oz	90-110	Alcohol, Carbs	Lower alcohol content and carbs than regular beer.
Hard Seltzer	12 oz	100	Alcohol, Sugar	Low sugar and carbs, often fruit-flavored.
Dry White Wine	5 oz	120	Alcohol, Sugar	Moderate calorie count, especially when turned into a spritzer.
Margarita	4 oz	170	Alcohol, Syrups	Premade mixes are often loaded with sugar.
Regular Beer	12 oz	150-198	Alcohol, Carbs	Higher alcohol and carb content add more calories.
Pina Colada	7 oz	380	Alcohol, Syrups, Cream	High-sugar, high-fat ingredients make it a calorie bomb.

Easy Low-Calorie Cocktail Recipes

Creating your own low-calorie drinks at home is simple and allows for greater control over ingredients. Here are a few recipes:

Classic Vodka Soda: Pour 1.5 oz vodka over ice in a glass. Top with club soda and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Ranch Water: In a tall glass with ice, combine 1.5 oz tequila, the juice of half a lime, and top with sparkling mineral water.
White Wine Spritzer: Combine 3 parts dry white wine with 1 part club soda over ice. Garnish with a lemon twist or fresh berries.

How to Enjoy Low-Calorie Drinks Mindfully

Enjoying alcoholic beverages responsibly is key to managing your overall health and weight. Beyond choosing low-calorie options, consider these tips:

Watch portion sizes: Be mindful of standard drink sizes (12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, 1.5 oz liquor). Drinks served at bars are often larger and contain more alcohol and calories.
Pace yourself: Alternate each alcoholic drink with a glass of water. This helps you stay hydrated and slows your overall consumption.
Don't drink on an empty stomach: Eating a meal with protein and fiber beforehand can slow alcohol absorption and help prevent overconsumption.
Be creative with garnishes: Use fresh fruits, herbs, or cucumber slices to add flavor and visual appeal without the sugar found in syrups.

Conclusion

Making informed choices is key to enjoying a low calorie alcoholic drink. By favoring neat spirits, dry wines, light beers, and hard seltzers, and being mindful of your mixers and portion sizes, you can reduce your calorie intake without completely eliminating alcohol. Always remember to drink in moderation and prioritize your health and well-being. For more information on responsible drinking, consult the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at their Rethinking Drinking website.

What is a low calorie alcoholic drink? The bottom line

Choosing a low calorie alcoholic drink involves opting for beverages with minimal or no added sugars and lower alcohol content. This typically includes clear spirits with zero-calorie mixers, dry wines, light beers, and hard seltzers. By understanding the calorie sources and adopting mindful drinking habits, you can make smarter choices that align with your health and wellness goals.

Pure Spirits are a Clean Base: Vodka, gin, and tequila are naturally low in calories when unmixed. Paired with soda water and fresh citrus, they make for excellent low-calorie cocktails.
Mixers Matter Most: The biggest calorie culprits in cocktails are sugary mixers like regular soda, juice, and simple syrup. Switching to diet or zero-calorie alternatives is the most effective strategy.
Seltzers and Light Beers are Mindful Options: Hard seltzers and light beers offer pre-packaged, low-calorie convenience for those seeking an easy, portion-controlled drink.
Dry Wine Over Sweet Wine: For wine lovers, dry wines contain significantly less residual sugar and therefore fewer calories than their sweeter counterparts.
Portion Control is Crucial: Regardless of the drink, sticking to standard serving sizes is essential for keeping your caloric intake in check.

Frequently Asked Questions

A vodka soda is widely considered one of the lowest-calorie alcoholic drinks, typically containing around 82 calories per 8-ounce serving when made with 1.5 ounces of vodka and soda water. Spirits like vodka, gin, and tequila also have very few calories when consumed neat or with zero-calorie mixers.

Yes, it is possible to drink alcohol and still lose weight, but moderation is key. Choosing low-calorie options, controlling portions, and balancing your overall diet are crucial for maintaining a calorie deficit. Excessive drinking can hinder weight loss by adding empty calories and affecting metabolism.

Excellent low-calorie mixers include soda water, club soda, diet tonic, and fresh citrus juices (in moderation). Using sugar-free syrups or naturally flavored sparkling waters is also an effective way to add flavor without a high calorie count.

For calorie and sugar content, hard seltzers are generally a healthier choice than many regular beers. A typical 12-ounce hard seltzer has around 100 calories, while many beers can have significantly more. However, light beers can be comparable in calorie count to seltzers.

Dry wines, both red and white, are the best low-calorie options because they contain less residual sugar. Examples include Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Brut sparkling wines. Avoid sweet wines like Moscato, which have much higher sugar and calorie counts.

Cocktails can be very high in calories due to the use of sugary ingredients. Premixed sour mixes, syrups, high-calorie juices, and creamy liqueurs can quickly turn a relatively low-calorie spirit into a high-calorie drink. A margarita or pina colada are classic examples.

The term 'empty calories' refers to calories that provide energy but offer little to no nutritional value, like vitamins or minerals. Alcohol is considered a source of empty calories, meaning your body gets energy without any corresponding health benefits from the calories consumed.